How I met Davy Jones

“Now that the party’s over,
now that the noise is through,
now that the room is empty
there’s only me and you . . .

There were so many people trying to talk to you,
telling you how they need you, trying to get to you . . .”

— from the Monkees’ song “Party,” sung by Davy Jones, released on Rhino Records’ Missing Links, volume 1

When the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood hosted a screening of the cult classic Monkees’ movie Head a few years ago, I attended with one goal: meet Davy Jones. Seeing Head on the big screen was awesome, but afterward Davy and Peter Tork hosted a panel discussion about the film, and I’d hoped to catch Davy for a picture and an autograph on his way out.

Clearly I wasn’t the only one, because the Monkees were mobbed. Fortunately, I had already met Peter Tork, so his half of the crowd wasn’t a factor. No, just a hundred middle-aged women and me, clamoring for a moment with the Daydream Believer himself.

Thankfully, I reached him shortly before he found the exit. When I met Micky and Peter, I was a bit breathless, barely uttering a thank you for the decades of enjoyment the Monkees have given me. This time, I had to be more direct, practically thrusting the album cover and Sharpee into Davy’s hand, then pointing up to the camera to capture the moment I’ve wanted for a lifetime.

We spend so much time idolizing celebrities; when they take the time to validate us, the respect however brief becomes mutual, and legitimate. The star suddenly becomes worthy of his pedestal — and this has become the legacy of Davy Jones. My experience speaks for itself: for all the people at the party, he always managed to find a moment just for you.

Davy’s friends, the Monkees, will be performing this Friday at the Mesa Arts Center